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European policymakers are stepping up coordination on youth risks linked to online gambling and gaming. Regulators across several countries want clearer tools to guide rules on products, marketing, and prevention.
On February 2, 2026, the Council of Europe held the fifth meeting of the TSI Advisory Group for its project, “Promoting the mental health of children and youth by addressing the risks of online gambling and gaming.” Representatives from Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal, and Slovenia joined the session. Bulgaria, Denmark, and Spain attended as observers.
Eight states compare policy moves aimed at youth protection
Officials used the meeting to share updates on national laws and policy plans. The focus stayed on youth exposure and digital addiction risks. The group also mapped out next steps for 2026.
Rather than push one shared rulebook, the project aims to help each country pick measures it can apply through its own system.
What the project has delivered so far
The Advisory Group reviewed three first-phase outputs.
The first is a situation analysis that sums up how countries respond to online gambling and gaming risks for children and young people. The second is a review of international good practices that highlights approaches countries may copy or adapt. The third is a blueprint communication strategy to support awareness campaigns aimed at young people and families.
Data gaps are now a key pressure point for regulators
The group also discussed a technical paper on data collection. It sets out recommendations on how countries can track youth exposure and harm indicators in a more consistent way. The Council of Europe says the goal is to produce data countries can compare, and to give policymakers a stronger base for future decisions.
Source: eSport Insider
